Ghost Towns Along Arizona's Route 66

Ghost Town Stretch to Kingman - Page 2

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Valentine – A Broken Heart in the Mohave

Moving along the Mother Road, parallel to the railroad tracks, you soon come upon the nearby ghost town of Valentine. Established in 1898, it showed promise when 660 additional acres were set aside for the Native Americans. In 1901, a two story Indian School was built that served as a day school for the nearby Hualapai Indians and a boarding school for children of the Apache, Havasupai, Hopi, Mohave, Navajo and Papago tribes. A separate school was built for the white children southeast of the Indian school, now referred to as "The Red Schoolhouse.” The Indian School closed in 1937 but reopened sometime later, continuing on until 1969.

Before I-40 bypassed this old stretch of the road in 1978, Valentine was called home to several hundred residents. Both locals and travelers alike often stopped at Bert’s Country Dancing Bar for a little two-steppin’ and a couple of brews.

The Valentine Indian School sits quiet now, Kathy

Weiser, December, 2004

It was also during Valentine's better days that thousands of Valentine cards and messages would flood into the tiny contract post office for its heart shaped postmark. That too ended when tragedy occurred on the afternoon of August 15, 1990. Unfortunately, even in the smallest of towns, murder and mayhem can be found. On that day, 44 year old Jacqueline Ann Grigg was working when a short stocky white man robbed the post office of its cash and left poor Jacqueline dying on the floor from a gunshot wound. Before long, Jacqueline’s husband bulldozed the building and left the area. The Valentine postmark was retired to the Kingman post office, where you can still get your special cards postmarked with the heart shaped cancellation.

Though there are still a few remaining residents, Valentine is a ghost town. However, both the old Indian School and the "Red Schoolhouse” still stand, along with several other remnants of Valentine's better days.

Hackberry – A Silver Mining Haven

The oldest town along this old stretch of the road, Hackberry's origin dates back to 1874 when prospectors set up a mining camp on the east side of the Peacock Mountains. After having discovered rich deposits of silver, the Hackberry Silver Mine was soon established and named for a large Hackberry tree growing near a spring adjacent to the mine. Before long, the valuable ore warranted a 5 stamp mill, which quickly doubled its capacity. Reportedly, this rich vein was about 40 feet in width, amounting in large amounts of silver being taken from the mine.

The signage at the Hackberry General store is sure to please any

Route 66 enthusiast, Kathy Weiser, December, 2004.

When the railroad came through in 1882, the small settlement moved some four miles from the original site. The "new” town of Hackberry became an important loading point for large cattle shipments, soon ranking third in the state in volume shipped. Between the cowboys, the miners, and railroaders, the transient town inevitably boasted its share of shooting, fighting and faro. In 1917 an elementary school was built in Hackberry, which can still be seen on the eastern edge of town.

Though not entirely played out, the Hackberry Silver Mine closed in 1919, due to litigation among the owners, but not before it earned almost 3 million dollars in silver production. After the mine closed down, Hackberry came to a slow crawl, but was revived by Route 66, when it came through. Becoming a bit of a tourist town, it hung tight until I-40 bypassed the entire northern loop from the Crookston exit to Kingman.

In recent years, there has been talk of reopening the Hackberry Mine, or, at the very least ,allowing new exploration of the rich vein of silver.

Today, Hackberry sits mostly silent with the exception of the revived Hackberry General Store and Visitors Center. Though the old town of Hackberry lies across the tracks from Route 66, the General Store sits right next to the highway.

Though there’s no gas to be purchased here, vintage gas pumps adorn the front, as well as a plethora of classic signs and hundreds of pieces of memorabilia. Inside, the store is a virtual museum, where visitors can walk through a vintage diner and see a lifetime collection of Route 66 history, as well as purchasing all kinds of Mother Road souvenirs.

Continue your journey onto Kingman where you'll have a chance to stop by the Arizona Route 66 Association, say hi to all the folks and brose their wonderful Route 66 Museum.

Also See: Ashfork to Hackberry 66 Road Gallery

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More memorabilia at the Hackberry General Store,

Kathy Weiser, December, 2004.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

To Kingman

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Route 66 Signs For All Eight States - Collect all the shields of the eight states along the Mother Road. These metal signs are silk screened on solid metal and have hemmed edges. Ready for hanging from pre-drilled holes in the corners. Put it up in your bar, dorm room, game room, kitchen, garage, patio or anywhere you'd like! Makes a GREAT gift for your family and friends! Measures approximately 11"x11" Collect all eight states!!